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MPS budget closes a gap after a $45.6 million deficit

Financial
Milwaukee public school teachers, parents, students and supporters staged a large picket line outside MPS administration building on Vliet Street on Milwaukee's west side late Tuesday afternoon. 
The purpose was to protest yet another round of funding cuts to K-12 schools in Milwaukee. Classrooms and students are already suffering the effects of previous cuts including desks that are falling apart and books with spines that need to be taped together. Currently, Milwaukee, a mainly African-Americ
Charles Edward Miller from Chicago, United States · by-sa

What happened

At the May 28 board meeting the superintendent said 2024-25 ended with a $45.6 million deficit. The 2026-27 budget answers it with about $18.2 million in central office savings, a staff reduction worth about $30 million, and about $6 million less in purchased services. The district's budget page says the board passed the budget in late May.

Why it matters to families

A budget this size changes staffing and services across 150+ schools, and the district says it is also adding teaching positions to reduce class sizes.

The evidence

Numbers are the superintendent's statements in the meeting recording captions (auto-generated, so figures should be checked against the budget book). The budget page lists the May 28-29 passage and October 29 amended budget.

The source

May 28, 2026 regular board meeting recording

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